Government / Politics
The Charter City of Guantánamo Bay?
Economist Paul Romer proposes the creation of new "charter cities", taking uninhabited areas and creating new innovative charters for cities that avoid the burden of national regulations. Guantánamo Bay is an ideal location, he says. (VIDEO)
'Distracted Driving' Summit Called By LaHood
In a sign of how serious the administration is taking traffic safety, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood called for a special meeting to deal with 'distracted driving', primarily the technological type - cell phones, both hand-held and hands-free, and texting.
Free Bus Rides Coming to New York?
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced an idea to speed up buses in Manhattan by eliminating crosstown bus fares.
San Francisco's 7-Bike Sharing System
The City of San Francisco has taken a babystep towards developing a citywide bike sharing system. The city recently hosted a bike sharing sampler, with 7 bikes being displayed and available for use at Golden Gate Park.
Allocate High Speed Rail Full $4 Billion, Argues NYT
In this editorial, the New York Times urges the Senate not to reduce the House's high speed rail budget allocation of $4 billion to $1.4 billion. Though President Obama is a prominent supporter of HSR, he supports delaying the transportation bill.
Feds Stimulate Crime-Ridden and Poor Cities
Crime numbers and struggling city budgets have caused the Justice department to issue $1 billion in federal stimulus funds to 1,046 communities to beef up their police forces.
Funds to Stabilize Neighborhoods, But Which Ones?
Funding from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program is finding a lot of use in foreclosure-swamped California's San Bernardino County. But one city is deep in debate over how those funds should be used, and which areas should be saved.
MPOs Have Scope, But No Power
As the regionality of urban planning issues becomes more clear, metropolitan planning organizations are uniquely suited to shape the policy response. But, according to this piece from Citiwire, they lack the power to do it.
House Votes To Extend Clunkers Program
The Cash For Clunkers Program or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) received a major vote of confidence on July 31 when the House overwhelmingly voted to inject $2 billion into the enormously popular program.
How Policy Can Make Better Neighborhoods and Schools
A new study from The Brookings Institution discusses how school quality and neighborhood affordability are linked, and how both can be improved.
Friday Funny: Public Comment Gold
A sample of public comments from meetings in the eccentrically out-there city of Santa Cruz, California.
Urban Farm Plot Violates Zoning
A small strip of land in Los Angeles is being used to grow vegetables for the cafe next door. But officials say the plot violates zoning rules.
Vancouver Setting the Bar for Green Cities
Mayor Gregor Robertson was elected in December 2008 on a green platform, and the city could be on its way to being the greenest city in the world.
California Bill Seeks Sharp Cuts in Per-Capita Water Use
The state of California is looking to reduce its per-capita water usage 20% by 2020, a plan that's moving forward in the state legislature. The plan could mean drastic changes for many cities in the arid parts of the state.
Feds Take Action On Driving While Texting
Banning "DWT" - driving while texting, could soon become the next 'seat belt requirement' for states to avoid forfeiture of some of their federal highway funds if a Senate bill is to become law.
'Invisible' Cities Want Bigger Role in Climate Bill
Officials in big cities are expressing disappointment that the House-approved climate bill looks to state capitals for guidance, not the metropolitan areas the bill will largely impact.
Exporting the Impoverished
The City of New York has been spending thousands of dollars to send people out of the city -- opting to pay for one-way plane tickets instead of providing social services.
Herb-an Planning
Medical marijuana dispensaries are in high supply in Los Angeles. But without zoning regulations to determine where they should and should not go, the dispensaries are causing some concerns from locals.
Incentives for Energy Efficiency Expanding
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration are looking to increase energy efficiency incentives for homeowners, including opportunities for larger home loans.
LA ExpressLanes (aka HOT Lanes) Toll Schedule Set
LA's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has set a toll 'schedule' for solo motorists on the new High Occupancy Toll, or 'ExpressLanes', as the MTA refers to them, on the 10 and 110 freeways. Opening date may be 2010.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
